HC Deb 24 July 2002 vol 389 c1180W
Mr. Swire

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when an inventory was last prepared of the Government's holdings of art and antiques [68461]

Mr. Boateng

The National Asset Register, published for the first time in 1997 and updated, with full valuations, in 2001, summarised asset holdings across Departments. Where appropriate, Departments summarise heritage assets separately.

Mr. Swire

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what(a) disposals from and (b) acquisitions to the Government's art and antiques collection there have been since 1997. [R] [68463]

Mr. Boateng

The National Asset Register summarised departmental asset acquisitions and disposals between 1997 and 2001. Similar information is provided annually in Departments' accounts. Where relevant, heritage assets are categorised separately.

The aggregate information requested is not held centrally. Details of individual asset acquisitions and disposals are available from individual Departments.

Mr. Swire

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Government have to sell its holdings of art and antiques; and what discussions his Department is having on the subject. [R] [68464]

Mr. Boateng

Specific asset sales are a matter for individual Departments. Departments' asset acquisition and disposal strategies will be set out in full in new departmental investment strategies, to be published in the autumn.

Mr. Swire

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is of the Government's holdings of art and antiques. [R] [68462]

Mr. Boateng

The 11,500 items that comprise the Government Art Collection are not valued, in accordance with accounting policy on heritage assets. Details of departmental asset holdings—including art and antiques assets—and their values are available in summary in Departments' accounts and are also published in the National Asset Register.